Ādi-līlā, Chapter 3
225
deya —gives;  yei jana —that person who;  tāra —to Him;  ṛṇa —the debt;  śodhite —to pay;  kṛṣṇa —Lord Kṛṣṇa;  karena —does;  cintana —thinking;  jala-tulasīra sama —equal to water and  tulasī ;  kichu —any;  ghare —in the house;  nāhi —there is not;  dhana —wealth.
TRANSLATION
Advaita Ācārya considered the meaning of the verse in this way: Not finding any way to repay the debt He owes to one who offers Him a tulasī leaf and water, Lord Kṛṣṇa thinks, “There is no wealth in My possession that is equal to a tulasī leaf and water.”
TEXT 107
তবে আত্মা বেচি’ করে ঋণের শোধন ।
এত ভাবি’ আচার্য করেন আরাধন ॥ ১০৭ ॥
tabe ātmā veci’ kare ṛṇera śodhana eta bhāvi’ ācārya karena ārādhana
SYNONYMS
tabe —then;  ātmā —Himself;  veci’ —selling;  kare —does;  ṛṇera —of the debt;  śodhana —payment;  eta —thus;  bhāvi’ —thinking;  ācārya —Advaita Ācārya;  karena —does;  ārādhana —worshiping.
TRANSLATION
Thus the Lord liquidates the debt by offering His own self to the devotee. Considering this, the Ācārya began worshiping the Lord.
PURPORT
Through devotional service one can easily please Lord Kṛṣṇa with a leaf of the  tulasī  plant and a little water. As the Lord says in  Bhagavad-gītā  (9.26), a leaf, a flower, a fruit or some water ( patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam ), when offered with devotion, very much pleases Him. He universally accepts the services of His devotees. Even the poorest of devotees in any part of the world can secure a small flower, fruit or leaf and a little water, and if these offerings, and especially  tulasī  leaves and Ganges water, are offered to Kṛṣṇa with devotion, He is very satisfied. It is said that Kṛṣṇa is so pleased by such devotional service that He offers Himself to His devotee in exchange for it. Śrīla Advaita Ācārya knew this fact, and therefore He decided to call for the Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa to descend by worshiping the Lord with  tulasī  leaves and the water of the Ganges.
TEXT 108
গজাজল, তুলসীমঞ্জরী অমুক্ষণ ।
কৃষ্ণপাদপদ্ম ভাবি’ করে সমর্পণ ॥ ১০৮ ॥